Effect of N‐phenylmaleimide on a novel chemically bonded polymerizable photoinitiator comprising the structure of planar N‐phenylmaleimide and benzophenone for photopolymerization

A novel chemically bonded polymerizable photoinitiator 4‐[(4‐maleimido)phenoxy]benzophenone (MPBP) comprising the structure of planar N‐phenylmaleimide (NPMI) and benzophenone (BP), compared with the physical mixtures of NPMI/BP or NPMI/4‐hydroxybenzophenone, was investigated to disclose the mutual influence between NPMI and BP. A BP derivative, 4‐phenoxylbenzophenone, was selected as the model compound. Electron spin resonance spectra of such photoredox systems indicated MPBP and BP possess the same initiation mechanism. The large red‐shifted π–π* absorption of MPBP should be because of the phenoxyl group in MPBP but not the maleimide group. The photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) initiated by those systems, using the unsaturated tertiary amine N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as the coinitiator (H donor), was studied through dilatometry and photo‐differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that MPBP was more efficient for the photopolymerization of MMA and HDDA than its physical mixture counterpart. The high efficiency of MPBP may be mainly because of the interaction between NPMI and BP group but not the phenoxyl group alone. A certain amount of NPMI can accelerate the photopolymerization when added to the formulations, but too much NPMI will eventually decrease the photoefficiency. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

ESR and kinetic study of a novel polymerizable photoinitiator comprising the structure of N‐phenylmaleimide and benzophenone for photopolymerization

A novel polymerizable photoinitiator, 4‐[(4‐maleimido)phenoxy]benzophenone (MPBP) comprising the structure of N‐phenylmaleimide and benzophenone was used for the photopolymerization with N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as coinitiator. The ESR spectrum of this photoredox system was studied and compared with BP/DMAEMA; the results showed the same signals of them and verified that N‐phenylmaleimide does not generate radicals. The kinetics for photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using such system was studied by dilatometer. It was found that the polymerization rate was proportional to the 0.3172th power of the MPBP concentration, the 0.7669th power and the 0.1765th power of MMA concentration and DMAEMA concentration respectively; the overall apparent activation energy obtained was 31.88 kJ/mol. The polymerization kinetics of 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) initiated by such system was studied by photo‐DSC. It showed that the increase in the MPBP concentration, light intensity, and temperature leads to increased polymerization rate and final conversion. The apparent activation energy was 11.25 kJ/mol. This polymerizable photoredox system was significantly favorable for reducing the migration of active species but owning high efficiency. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2347–2354, 2006     

Functional group selective polymerization of (4-maleimidophenyl)oxirane as a new type of bifunctional monomer

A novel bifunctional monomer, (4-maleimidophenyl)oxirane (MAPO), with very reactive maleimido and epoxy groups, was prepared through the selective oxidation of the two carbon–carbon double bonds of N-(4-vinylphenyl)maleimide. Either of the two different polymerizable groups (vinylene of the maleimide moiety and the mono-substituted epoxide) of MAPO was able to be selectively polymerized by choosing the polymerization method. For radical polymerization, MAPO gave poly{p-[1,2-(epoxyethyl)phenyl]maleimide} (PEPM) with dense pendent epoxy groups in 76% yield without cross-linking. MAPO also gave poly(maleimidostyrene oxide) (PMSO) with dense pendent maleimido groups through cationic polymerization in 60% yield. On the other hand, anionic polymerization with an of MAPO produced only insoluble gel-like materials due to unselective polymerization of the two polymerizable groups (Scheme 1). The vinylene group of the maleimide moiety in PMSO easily reacted with the mercapto group, and the ring-opening reaction of the epoxy groups in PEPM with amino groups took place.     

Monomers and polymers of 4‐(N,N‐diallylamino)pyridine functions

4‐(N,N‐Diallylamino)pyridine (DAAP), N,N‐diallylaminobenzene (DAAB), N,N,N′,N′‐tetrallyl‐4,4′‐diaminobenzidine (AAB), N,N,N′,N′‐tetrallyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (AABS), and N,N,N′,N′‐tetrallyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (AABE) were prepared by sodium substitution and N‐allylation. Moreover, linear polyDAAP, poly(DAAP‐co‐DAAB), and network poly(DAAP‐co‐AAB), poly(DAAP‐co‐AABS), and poly(DAAP‐co‐AABE), all being polymers containing supernucleophilic groups, were synthesized in the cyclopolymerization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 363–367, 2000     

A polymerizable photosensitizer and its photopolymerization kinetics

A previously reported polymerizable benzophenone photosensitizer, 2‐methacryloxyethyl 4‐benzoylbenzoate (MEBB), was synthesized and characterized. The photopolymerization kinetics of methyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate (MHMA) and 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) initiated with MEBB or benzophenone (BP) in the presence or absence of amine co‐initiators were determined by photo‐differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that benzophenone with a p‐carbonyl substitutent is more efficient in photoinitiation when compared to the non‐substituted benzophenone analogue. The final monomer conversions in the presence of amine co‐initiators are slightly higher than without them. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of novel poly(amide‐imide)s containing trimellitylimido‐DL/L‐alanine moieties via direct polycondensation

N‐Trimellitylimido‐DL and L ‐alanine ( 3 ) were prepared from the reaction of trimellitic anhydride ( 1 ) with DL and L ‐alanine ( 2 ) in N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF) solution at refluxing temperature. The direct polycondensation reaction of the monomers imide‐diacid ( 3 ) with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone ( 4a ), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane ( 4b ), 1,4‐phenylenediamine ( 4c ), 1,3‐phenylenediamine ( 4d ), 2,4‐diaminotoluene ( 4e ), and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether ( 4f ) was carried out in a medium consisting of triphenyl phosphite, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrolidone (NMP), pyridine, and calcium chloride. The resulting poly(amide‐imide)s PAIs, with inherent viscosities 0.32–0.66 dL/g, were obtained in high yield. All of the above‐mentioned compounds were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses, and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of these new optically active PAI s are reported. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1312–1318, 2001     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel acetylene‐ and maleimide‐terminated benzoxazine and its high‐performance thermosets

A novel acetylene‐ and maleimide‐terminated benzoxazine, 3‐(3‐ethynylphenyl)‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐6‐(N‐maleimido)‐1,3‐benzoxazine (MBZ‐apa), was successfully synthesized with N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)maleimide, paraformaldehyde, and 3‐aminophenylacetylene. The structure of the benzoxazine is confirmed by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopies. MBZ‐apa is easily dissolved in common organic solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study thermal cross‐linking behavior of MBZ‐apa. The DSC curve shows only a single exothermic peak due to the oxazine ring‐opening polymerization and the polymerization of the acetylene and maleimide groups occurring simultaneously in the same temperature range. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) reveals that the novel polybenzoxazine exhibits high glass‐transition temperature (T_g) (ca. 348°C). The storage modulus arrives at 4.5 GPa in the range of room temperature to 330°C. The polybenzoxazine exhibits good thermal stability as evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Pyrolysis‐GC/MS) was employed to characterize the polybenzoxazine. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of epoxy with improved thermal remendability based on Diels‐Alder reaction

To produce an epoxy resin with high intrinsic self‐healing efficiency, furfurylglycidyl ether (FGE) was synthesized following a two‐step route. It carried one furan and one epoxide on each of its molecules. Having been cured using N,N′‐(4,4′‐diphenylmethane)bismaleimide and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride, FGE was then polymerized with two types of intermonomer linkages. That is, thermally reversible Diels–Alder (DA) bonds from the reaction between furan and maleimide groups, and thermally irreversible bonds from the reaction between epoxide and anhydride groups. These two types of bonds provide the polymer with thermal remendability and load‐bearing capacity, respectively. Compared with N,N‐diglycidylfurfurylamine, which was previously developed by the authors and has a similar structure to FGE but with fewer furan rings, FGE can react with maleimide with lower activation energy and the DA bonds formed exhibit higher reversibility. Consequently, improved crack healability of the cured FGE characterized by nearly full recovery of fracture toughness was revealed using double cleavage drilled compression tests. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Novel sulfur—containing benzophenone derivative as radical photoinitiator for photopolymerization

A novel, highly efficient, polymerizable sulfur‐containing photoinitiator for free radical polymerization, benzophenone thio‐acetic acid (BP‐S‐CH₂‐COOH) was synthesized, characterized, and compared to photoinitiator parameters of the benzophenone (BP) and benzophenone/(phenylthio)acetic acid couple. The photoinitiator possesses a greatly redshifted UV maximal absorption in comparison to BP. Laser flash photolysis studies suggest that photoinitiator radicals are generated by photocleavage of C? S bond. Photopolymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol triacrylate (TMPTA) demonstrated that one‐component system BP? S? CH₂? COOH is more efficient for polymerization than two‐component system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Novel benzoxazine resins as photoinitiator comprising benzophenone and coinitiator amine for photopolymerization

A novel kind of benzoxazine precursors made of 4‐dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP), formaldehyde and N, N′‐diethylethylenediamine was developed. The striking feature of this class of precursors is that it can be acted as an effective photo initiator for polymerization of acrylate monomers. In addition, this kind of precursors could be directly dispersed in water and its aqueous solution exhibited very sharp response to temperature, with a well‐defined cloud point. The structure of this precursor has been confirmed by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and its curing behaviors are investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The photopolymerization of acylate monomers, initiated by this precursor, was studied through photo‐DSC. The results show that this precursor is dramatically more efficient than benzophenone (BP), in which the polymerization rate is almost four times as high as that of the BP system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel oligosiloxane containing alternative ladderlike structure via charge‐transfer interaction

A novel oligosiloxane containing alternative ladderlike structure involving viologen groups has been prepared via donor–acceptor interaction‐assisted template polymerization. The monomer used as the electron‐donor component, N,N ′‐bis(3‐methyldimethoxyl‐silylpropyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium dihexafluorophosphate and its precursor, N,N ′‐bis(3‐methyldimethoxyl‐silylpropyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium dibromide were first synthesized successfully in high yield. This oligosiloxane, which displays interesting electrochromic properties, has been characterized by FTIR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and vapour pressure osmometry (VPO). © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of optically active star‐shaped poly (N‐phenylmaleimide)s with a calixarene core

Two N‐phenylmaleimide derivatives bearing a chiral oxazoline group, N‐[o‐(4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐oxazol‐2‐yl)phenyl]maleimide [(R)‐PhOPMI] and N‐[o‐(4‐isopropyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐oxazol‐2‐yl)phenyl]maleimide [(S)‐PrⁱOPMI], were polymerized using in situ generated calixarene‐based phenates as initiators to yield optically active polymers. The formation of star‐shaped architectures was strongly dependent on both polymerization conditions and calixarene moieties. In the case of polymerization conducted in toluene at 80–100 °C, the arm‐chain numbers achieved their respective maxima for the polymers with these multifunctional initiators. In contrast, the polymers obtained in polymerizations at lower temperature possessed fewer arm chains. The structure and chiroptical properties were investigated on the basis of ¹³C NMR, multiangular laser light scattering, gel permeation chromatography, and circular dichroism for the macromolecules with calixarene cores. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of polyetherimides containing multiple ether linkages and pendent pentadecyl chains

4‐(4‐(4‐(4‐Aminophenoxy)‐2‐pentadecylphenoxy)phenoxy)aniline (APPPA) was synthesized starting from cashew nut shell liquid‐derived bisphenol, i.e. 4‐(4‐hydroxyphenoxy)‐3‐pentadecylphenol, by nucleophilic substitution reaction with 4‐chloronitrobenzene followed by reduction of the formed 4‐(4‐nitrophenoxy)‐1‐(4‐(4‐nitrophenoxy)phenoxy)‐2‐pentadecylbenzene. Three new polyetherimides containing multiple ether linkages and pendent pentadecyl chains were synthesized by one‐step high‐temperature solution polycondensation of APPPA in m‐cresol with three aromatic dianhydrides, i.e. 3,3′,4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride and 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride. Inherent viscosities and number‐average molecular weights of the polyetherimides were in the ranges 0.66–0.70 dL g^?1 and 17 100–29 700 g mol^?1 (gel permeation chromatography, polystyrene standards), respectively, indicating the formation of reasonably high molecular weight polymers. The polyetherimides were soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, m‐cresol, N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N‐methylpyrrolidone and dimethylsulfoxide, and could be cast into transparent, flexible and tough films from their solutions in chloroform. The polyetherimides exhibited glass transition temperatures (T_g) in the range 113–131 °C. The lowering of T_g could be attributed to the combined influence of flexibilizing ether linkages and pentadecyl chains which act as ‘packing‐disruptive’ groups. The temperature at 10% weight loss (T₁₀), determined from thermogravimetric analysis in nitrogen atmosphere, was in the range 460–470 °C demonstrating good thermal stability. The virtues of solubility and large gap between T_g and T₁₀ mean that the polyetherimides containing pendent pentadecyl chains have possibilities for both solution as well as melt processability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aromatic ether nitrile monomer containing propenylphenoxy groups and properties of its copolymer with 4,4′‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane

A novel aromatic ether nitrile monomer containing propenyl groups, 2,6‐di{2‐[(E)‐1‐propenyl]phenoxy} benzonitrile (DPPB), was synthesized by the reaction of 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile and 2‐allylphenol using anhydrous potassium carbonate as the acid acceptor, N‐methyl pyrrolidone as the dipolar aprotic solvent, and toluene as the dehydrating agent. The chemical structure of DPPB was characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR. The monomer was used to modify a popular commercial bismaleimide, 4,4‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMDPM), to improve the shear strength of the resin. The results showed that DPPB could effectively improve the shear strength of the BMDPM resin without decreasing the heat resistance of BMDPM. A better result was obtained when the composition of DPPB in the copolymer was 45 wt %. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1465–1472, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of novel wholly para‐oriented aromatic polyamide‐hydrazides containing sulfone‐ether linkages

Four novel wholly para‐oriented aromatic polyamide‐hydrazides containing flexibilizing sulfone‐ether linkages in their main chains have been synthesized from 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxy benzhydrazide (4A3HBH) with either 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoyl chloride (SDBC), 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride (SODBC), 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride (4MeSODBC), or 4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylenedioxy)dibenzoyl chloride (ODBC) via a low‐temperature solution polycondensation reaction. A polyamide‐hydrazide without the flexibilizing linkages is also investigated for comparison. It was synthesized from 4A3HBH and terephthaloyl chloride (TCl) by the same synthetic route. The intrinsic viscosities of the polymer ranged from 2.85 to 4.83 dL g^?1 in N,N‐dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) at 30°C and decreased with introducing the flexibilizing linkages into the polymer. All the polymers were soluble in DMAc, N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF), and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), and their solutions could be cast into films with good mechanical strengths. Further, they exhibited a great affinity to water sorption. Their solubility and hydrophilicity increased remarkably by introducing the flexibilizing linkages. The polymers could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) approximately in the region of 295–470°C either in nitrogen or in air atmospheres. The flexibilizing linkages improve the solubility of the resulting poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) when compared with poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazolyl‐benzoxazoles) free from these linkages. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Copolymers derived from bismaleimide oligomer with active solvent

An oligomer from 4, 4′‐bis(maleimido)diphenyl methane and methylenedianiline were dissolved in active solvent N,N‐dimethyl acrylamide in a solid content up to 50–70%; the solution was poured in a sheet‐shaped module and irradiated by ⁶⁰Co with the dose from 20 to 350 kGy at room temperature. The polymerized sheet was postcured at 180°C to obtain a transparent red‐orange sheet with tensile strength above 100 MPa. The glass transition temperature before and after postcuring was around 100°C and 150–180°C, respectively. Styrene was used along with DMAA to decrease the water absorption for the copolymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2879–2882, 2004     

Synthesis,characterization, and gas transport properties of new semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s containing cardo moiety

A series of new semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s (PEI)s was synthesized from a diamine monomer, 9,9‐bis ‐[3‐phenyl‐4‐{2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐(4′′‐aminophenyl)phenoxy} phenyl]fluorene on reaction with three different aromatic dianhydrides namely, 4,4′‐(4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis (phthalic anhydride), 4,4'‐(hexafluoro‐isopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, and 4,4'‐oxydiphthalic anhydride. The PEIs were well characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and optical techniques. The synthesized PEIs showed high glass transition temperature (T_g up to 288 °C) and high thermal stability (T_{d ,10} up to 521 °C under synthetic air), high tensile strength, up to 76 MPa and low dielectric constant (?) (2.35–2.61 at 1 MHz). The membranes prepared from these polymers were studied for their gas permeability for four different gases CO₂, O₂, N₂, and CH₄. The PEI membranes showed high gas permeability (P _CO2 up to 70.3 and P _O2 up to 16.7 Barrer) and high permselectivity (P _CO2/P _CH4 up to 73.6 and P _O2/P _N2 up to 13.4); for the O₂/N₂ gas pair the PEIs surpassed the present upper boundary limit of 2008 drawn by Robeson. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45213.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel functional monomer containing cyano and propenylphenoxy groups and the properties of its copolymer with bismaleimide (BMI)

A novel functional monomer containing cyano and propenylphenoxy groups, 2,6‐di{2‐[(E)‐l‐propenyl]phenoxy}benzonitrile (DPPB) was prepared with high stereospecificity by the reaction of 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile and 2‐allylphenol in a mixed solvent system of N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP)/toluene in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. The chemical structure of the product was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The monomer was then used to modify a popular commercial bismaleimide, 4,4‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMDPM), for improving the shear strength of the resin. The results showed that the modified resin could attain 4.7 times the shear strength of neat BMDPM and good heat resistance when the composition of DPPB in the modified resin was 45% (by weight). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of highly soluble poly(ether imide)s containing indane moieties in the main chain

A new indane containing unsymmetrical diamine monomer ( 3 ) was synthesized. This diamine monomer leads to a number of novel semifluorinated poly (ether imide)s when reacted with different commercially available dianhydrides like benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenone‐3,3′, 4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4′‐(hexafluoro‐isopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), and 4,4′‐(4,4′‐Isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride) (BPADA) by thermal imidization route. All the poly(ether imide)s showed excellent solubility in several organic solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform (CHCl₃) and dichloromethane (DCM) at room temperature. These light yellow poly (ether imide)s showed very low water absorption (0.19–0.30%) and very good optical transparency. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction measurements revealed that these polymers were amorphous in nature. The polymers exhibited high thermal stability up to 526°C in nitrogen with 5% weight loss, and high glass transition temperature up to 265°C. The polymers exhibited high tensile strength up to 85 MPa, modulus up to 2.5 GPa and elongation at break up to 38%, depending on the exact polymer structure. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis and properties of novel polyamides containing sulfone‐ether linkages and xanthene cardo groups

In order to obtain polyamides with enhanced solubility and processability, as well as good mechanical and thermal properties, several novel polyamides containing sulfone‐ether linkages and xanthene cardo groups based on a new diamine monomer, 9,9‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]xanthene (BAPX), were investigated. The BAPX monomer was synthesized via a two‐step process consisting of an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of readily available 4‐chloronitrobenzene with 9,9‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)xanthene in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N‐dimethylformamide, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Four novel aromatic polyamides containing sulfone‐ether linkages and xanthene cardo groups with inherent viscosities between 0.98 and 1.22 dL g^?1 were prepared by low‐temperature polycondensation of BAPX with 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoyl chloride, 4,4′‐[sulfonyl‐bis(4‐phenyleneoxy)]dibenzoyl chloride, 3,3′‐[sulfonyl‐bis(4‐phenyleneoxy)]dibenzoyl chloride and 4,4′‐[sulfonyl‐bis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenyleneoxy)]dibenzoyl chloride in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution containing pyridine. All these new polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in various polar solvents such as DMAc and N‐methylpyrrolidone. These polymers showed relatively high glass transition temperatures in the range 238–298 °C, almost no weight loss up to 450 °C in air or nitrogen atmosphere, decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss ranging from 472 to 523 °C and 465 to 512 °C in nitrogen and air, respectively, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 50 wt%. Transparent, flexible and tough films of these polymers cast from DMAc solution exhibited tensile strengths ranging from 78 to 87 MPa, elongations at break from 9 to 13% and initial moduli from 1.7 to 2.2 GPa. Primary characterization of these novel polyamides shows that they might serve as new candidates for processable high‐performance polymeric materials. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry